New Leadership for Winnebago Schools

WINNEBAGO (WIFR) -- Most area students were off today for president's day. But it was all business in the Winnebago School District. And that includes its school board. The board hired a new superintendent tonight.

Current Central Illinois School District Principal Scott Bloomquist will be the new Winnebago Superintendent. Over the past few months, the school board narrowed it down from 25 candidates to just two earlier this month And tonight they chose Bloomquist. Current Superintendent Dennis Harezlak has lead the Winnebago School District since 2002 but will be retiring at the end of this school year.

School board members chose Bloomquist to replace him because of his many years of experience in the education field.

"He knows a lot about curriculum and he does that now. He has a lot of different hats so he is bringing a lot to the table here at Winnebago," Winnebago School Board President Elizabeth Johnson-Lovett said.

Board members say working closely with the regional office of education as well as community members helped them make the right decision. Bloomquist will start as superintendent later this summer.

Bloomquist will be starting at a time the district continues to deal with budgetary constraints including teachers who remain without a contract.

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Another Stateline School District is expected to reveal its new Superintendent tonight.

The Winnebago School Board will discuss the final two candidates in just a couple of hours. Rochelle’s principal, Travis McGuire is up against Scott Bloomquist, a principal in a central Illinois school district.

The current superintendent, Dennis Harezlek is retiring at the end of this school year.

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